Partners
Ismael Ortiz Fernández
Ismael Ortiz boasts a robust 30-year career in international trade negotiations and regional economic integration, coupled with extensive knowledge of the public sector and Mexico’s public policies.
As a partner at The Supply Chain Group, he brings his profound understanding of trade policy and his skills as an international trade negotiator, making him a key player in achieving international agreements. His analytical ability, strategic vision, and excellent communication skills allow him to lead the development and successful implementation of local and international projects.
As Mexico’s Chief Trade Negotiator, he led the negotiations with South Korea, Ecuador, and the United Kingdom and its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
He has a profound knowledge and first-hand experience developing multilateral trade rules. At the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ismael held positions as Deputy Permanent Representative and Economic Counselor. In these capacities, he was responsible for designing and implementing Mexico’s positions in several committees and negotiation groups. He served as the Deputy Director-General for Multilateral and Regional Negotiations, where he coordinated Mexico’s position in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
He has experience developing the rules for trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region. He oversaw the implementation of the Mexico-Israel Free Trade Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement between Mexico and Japan. He served as Mexico’s Senior Official in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the CPTPP meetings. He played a pivotal role in coordinating the High-Level Group between Mexico and India.
He is a speaker at universities and international fora, including ALADI, APEC, and the WTO.
He has a BA in Economics from the Universidad Iberoamericana. He previously taught International Trade Theory at the Postgraduate Division of the Faculty of Law at UNAM. Currently, he is a member of the Academic Liaison Council at the Universidad Popular Autónoma de Puebla and serves as a professor of International Trade Agreements at the Universidad Panamericana.
Dora Rodríguez Romero
Dora Rodríguez boasts a career spanning over three decades, during which she has emerged as a trailblazer in the realm of international trade and market integration, both in Mexico and on a global scale.
Recognized as an exceptional professional, Dora has made significant contributions to the integration of Mexican and international companies into the global market, as well as the establishment of businesses within Mexico. As the General Director of Trade Facilitation and Foreign Trade, she played a pivotal role in establishing the National Trade Facilitation Committee, aligning with Mexico’s WTO commitments . Dora successfully implemented initiatives in Mexico, facilitating hundreds of companies’ compliance with Mexico’s legal and business requirements. She streamlined processes for the implementation of trade programs, significantly enhancing operational efficiency for all IMMEX operators in Mexico by improving response times and ensuring enforcement. Dora also played a crucial role in overseeing the application of rules of origin and trade facilitation in the USMCA.
In her capacity as General Director of Planning and Negotiation Strategies and later as the General Director of Asia, Oceania, and Multilateral Organizations, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Undersecretary for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economy, Dora actively contributed to formulating public policies and programs that fostered trade growth, leveraging the benefits of free trade agreements. She championed the development of Mexico’s negotiation strategies on bilateral, regional, and multilateral fronts, defining Mexico’s agenda in the Trade and Investment Groups within the G-20.
Dora’s influence extended globally as she served as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the WTO and the Deputy Representative of Mexico to ALADI, playing a crucial role in advancing Mexico’s trade and investment agenda worldwide and with its Latin American partners. Additionally, as Undersecretary of ALADI, she spearheaded the Association’s Free Trade Area project.
Transitioning into the private sector, Dora’s advisory and consulting work has proven invaluable to numerous companies navigating the intricacies of international trade, regional dynamics, and global value chains. Notably, at the Mexico City Airport Group, she served as the Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation.
Dora holds a B.A. in Economics from National Autonomous University of Mexico and a graduate degree in Economics and Finance, specializing in International Economic Relations, from the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris, France.
Cindy Rayo Zapata
Cindy Rayo is a respected international trade and investment arbitration lawyer.
Cindy brings more than 15 years of experience in international trade in services, investment, and investment arbitration to The Supply Chain Group. Her professional experience in international commercial law encompasses complex and high-profile matters related to energy, maritime, investment, telecommunications, financial services, environment, infrastructure contracts, digital trade, and cross-border trade in services.
As an international expert in negotiating disciplines on trade in services, she has been able to contribute to the design of policies and regulations related to digital platforms, cybersecurity, personal data protection, e-commerce facilitation, and consumer protection. Her deep technical knowledge and negotiation skills have been key in negotiating and designing international standards related to e-commerce, telecommunications, national regulation, and investment protection and facilitation.
As an expert in investment arbitration, she was part of Mexico’s defense team in 17 investment arbitrations under trade and investment agreements, achieving favorable results in the cases for which she was responsible.
As an international trade lawyer, she has participated in various proceedings under USMCA Chapter 31. She has also been involved in the negotiation of various regional and plurilateral trade agreements, as well as international investment agreements signed by Mexico, including the CPTPP, the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, the USMCA, and more than a dozen BITs. In this capacity, she has represented Mexico in international trade forums such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Working Group III, on the reform of the investor-state dispute settlement system, ICSID, the OECD, APEC, and the WTO.
She is an internationally recognized speaker at national and international for a discussing topics related to investment arbitration, telecommunications, digital trade, and international trade.
She holds an MA in Public International Law from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, and a BA in International Relations and Law from ITAM, where she has also served as a lecturer.
She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Cyber Policy Dialogue for the Americas.
César Remis
César Remis stands out for his exceptional skills in the field of international trade agreement negotiations and commercial diplomacy. His unique combination of technical skills and strategic thinking positions him as a distinguished leader in the field of international trade.
As part of The Supply Chain Group he brings over 25 years of experience in international trade negotiations. He has successfully concluded international trade agreements that have contributed to position Mexico as the top trading partner of the United States and to number one trade player in Latin America.
He has overseen Mexico’s trade agenda in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. He served as the Senior Official of Mexico in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the CPTPP, and as National Coordinator of Mexico in the Pacific Alliance. He also chaired the CPTPP Commission at the Senior Officials level during Mexico’s Commission Presidency.
César brings extensive experience and knowledge of U.S. trade policy and Mexico’s trade relationship with the United States and Canada. He directed Mexico’s Office for the Implementation of the USMCA in the United States and the Economic Section of the Mexican Embassy in Canada.
With a solid diplomatic background, César has served in various Embassies and Representations of Mexico in North America, Latin America, and Europe. His expertise spans from economic policy and trade negotiations to legislative lobbying strategy and business development.
He has solid experience in the development of regional integration projects and sustainable tourism funded by the World Bank and USAID. Currently, he is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of North Carolina and has been a member of the Boards of Directors of several national and international organizations.
He has a BA in Computer Systems Engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) in Mexico and an MA in Business Administration (MBA) from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Senior Advisor
Angel Villalobos
Angel Villalobos R, holds a long professional career in Economics, Business and International Trade, both in the public and the the private sector. Has had the distinction to serve as Undersecretary for International Trade Negotiations and recently, from 2020 to 2023, was the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the World Trade Organization.
Moreover, he was the Director General for Foreign Investment, as well as Director General for International Trade of Services and Investment, was a representative of Mexico in Canada as Consul General in Vancouver.
Previous to his public sector experience, headed Compass Consulting, a consulting firm on business and economics. Additionally he was a consultant for the IDB and held several posts in the corporate sector with responsabilities related to economic analysis and business planning, industrial studies as well as international trade. He has bachelor and graduate studies in economics, specializing in Public Finance, International Trade and Economic Development. In addition, he holds a Senior Company Management Certificate.